Ukraine acceded to the Second Protocol of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict in 1954, which provides additional opportunities for the protection of cultural heritage in occupied Crimea. It was reported by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to UNESCO via its website.
According to the protocol, the occupant should not commit:
– any illegal export, other illegal movement or illegal transfer of ownership of cultural property;
– any archaeological site, unless it is exclusively required to protect, record or preserve cultural property;
– any modifications or changes in the use of cultural property with the aim of concealing or destroying evidence of a cultural, historical or scientific nature.
In addition, the following actions are considered a crime:
– the destruction or appropriation on a large scale of cultural property that is protected in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and this Protocol;
– the commission of acts of theft, robbery or misappropriation or acts of vandalism directed against cultural property protected under the provisions of the Convention.